Chapter 623: Secrets of the Cultivation World: Arrival on the Island

"The Eastern Sea cultivation realm?"

"I never expected there to be such a major sect—doesn't that make it stronger than the three Nascent Soul sects of Zhongzhou?" Qin Ming exclaimed in surprise.

Yue Lingyan also froze, her expression odd as she asked: "Surely you didn't know? I assumed you, Qin Daoist, were already well-versed in the mortal cultivation world."

"Heh! You know, Yue Daoist, I come from the remote southern wastelands—my information is naturally limited," Qin Ming said with an awkward smile.

Qin Ming had always buried himself in cultivation and farming; he had to admit his understanding of the cultivation world was exceedingly shallow.

Yue Lingyan did not mock him but patiently explained: "Beyond the Southern Wastelands and Zhongzhou's three states, there are also the Eastern Sea, Western You, and Northern Cold cultivation realms."

"Beyond the Eastern Sea cultivation realm, it is said there lies a mysterious outer sea so vast that even a Nascent Soul True Person could not explore it all in a lifetime."

"Originally, the Southern Wastelands were a land rich in cultivation resources—even the branch sect of Qingyuan Sect once established itself here, producing many remarkable figures—but it was completely submerged during the ancient war, leaving only a fraction remaining today."

"Since then, the Southern Wastelands have become a desolate backwater, with not a single Nascent Soul cultivator born since."

Yue Lingyan sighed deeply as she spoke.

Qin Ming, hearing her account, learned this for the first time: "Heh, I never imagined the Southern Wastelands' golden age was no weaker than other realms—if not for you, Yue Daoist, I'd truly be ignorant."

"No matter. Once your cultivation reaches the right level, you'll inevitably encounter these hidden truths of the cultivation realms," Yue Lingyan said with a calm smile.

Qin Ming then remembered something, his eyes flashing with interest, and asked again: "What about the Xuehuan Realm? Is it wider and stronger than the mortal realms?"

He cared deeply about this realm, having slain several demonic sect disciples—including even a Holy Son.

He now bore the Blood Ring Curse, thick and potent, and wished to understand it fully.

"Not at all," Yue Lingyan replied. "According to my knowledge, beneath the Spirit Realm lie countless minor realms—so numerous they're beyond counting."

"Yet in terms of geographic expanse and the number of high-level cultivators, the mortal realms rank among the top-tier realms beneath the Spirit Realm."

"The Xuehuan Realm is the same—it is said to be controlled by several large Soul Transformation sects, predominantly of the demonic path."

"Overall, its strength slightly surpasses that of the mortal realms."

"There are still Soul Transformation sects existing within the mortal realms today."

Qin Ming nodded repeatedly: "I see."

After conversing with Yue Lingyan for a while, he took his leave from the Fox Clan's sacred land.

Yue Lingyan and the little silver fox stepped out of Muxia Mountain, watching Qin Ming depart.

She still held the demonic flame wine and Yunying fruit Qin Ming had given her.

…

Several days later.

Qin Ming took out a map, confirmed his direction, and continued flying eastward.

This map had been given to him by Yue Lingyan.

Gradually, after crossing several mountain ranges, the vast coastline appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

In fact, during his time with the Fox Clan, he had learned from Yue Lingyan that the route to the Southern Wastelands was not the only one.

One could also reach it via the Beast Roar Mountains—but deeper within, powerful demonic clans held sway.

The paths to the Southern Wastelands had been severed by several royal clans possessing fourth-stage demonic saints.

If he encountered a mid-fourth-stage Gushan Demon Saint or a Demon Saint of the Riftwind Eagle clan, even Qin Ming's current strength would mean certain death.

Unless he broke through to Nascent Soul, or pushed his body cultivation to the point of bodily sainthood.

"I've chosen to return via Xiao Gui Island by boat. Though the Black Sea has its dangers, it's relatively safer."

Qin Ming's eyes flickered, then he summoned the Silverwing Frost Bee, mounting it as he flew toward the Black Sea.

The Silverwing Frost Bee let out a joyful screech, carrying Qin Ming as a silver streak of light, vanishing into the horizon.

He flew for over ten days, beneath him nothing but the endless Black Sea, not a single patch of land in sight.

Even the Silverwing Frost Bee, flying at full speed with its late third-stage cultivation, began to tire.

Qin Ming was considering whether to swap out the Shitian Rat to ride it, when—

A black dot appeared on the distant sea.

Qin Ming's eyes brightened; he pulled out the map, compared it, then smiled: "Finally arrived."

He immediately recalled the Silverwing Frost Bee into his Little Spirit Realm, activated the True Demon Illusion, and once again transformed into the appearance of Lu the Shopkeeper.

He concealed his cultivation to late Foundation Establishment, then descended toward the distant island.

But as Qin Ming neared the island, he realized Xiao Gui Island lived up to its name—it was truly tiny, even smaller than one of the smaller islets in the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Looking down, the island was barren, lifeless, covered entirely in black rock, split into jagged chunks like a turtle shell, offering no hiding spots—utterly exposed. There was not a single defense force on it.

When Qin Ming arrived, several cultivators were already waiting on Xiao Gui Island for the boat.

He merely released his spiritual sense to scan them—he saw they were all low-level cultivators: one Foundation Establishment beginner, the rest Qi Refining.

'Yue Lingyan said that from Da Jin, only those above Jin Dan could reach Xiao Gui Island—so how come these people are here?'

'Could all of them be cultivators from the Eastern Sea cultivation realm?'

At this thought, Qin Ming's interest stirred.

He had a strong curiosity for the hidden secrets of the cultivation world.

Qin Ming shot forward as a green streak, landing before the group on the island.

At the same time,

The cultivators waiting on Xiao Gui Island had also noticed Qin Ming's arrival.

As Qin Ming drew near, the immense spiritual pressure radiating from him caused them all to turn pale.

"Such terrifying spiritual pressure—this is a late Foundation Establishment master!"

Qin Ming's appearance sent the group on Xiao Gui Island into panic, tense and fearful.

On such a remote, isolated island, if he were a malevolent soul, he could kill them, seize their treasures, and erase all traces.

These low-level cultivators would have no one to cry to.

After landing, Qin Ming saw their tension, then smiled warmly and said: "No need to be alarmed, I'm Lu—I'm here to board the boat too, with no ill intent."

The others,

Hearing this, cautiously scrutinized Qin Ming several times more, saw his demeanor was upright, and finally relaxed, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Elder Lu!"

After greeting them, Qin Ming learned through conversation:

The Luo cultivator, the Foundation Establishment beginner, was a middle-aged man with a square face, mature and steady.

The other Qi Refining cultivators were his clan members.

They came from a minor family on the outskirts of the Eastern Sea cultivation realm; this time, Luo intended to bring his clan youths to a distant island on the Black Sea for training, and to hunt low-level sea beasts to supplement their income.

The Luo family members treated Qin Ming with utmost respect, given his high cultivation.

They answered his questions with extreme caution, almost awestruck.

But after learning what he could, Qin Ming realized these low-level cultivators knew very little.

Seeing he'd gleaned no useful information, he lost interest in further inquiry.

He sat down on the spot, closed his eyes, and began meditating.

…

After waiting half a day on Xiao Gui Island,

Qin Ming, who had been meditating, slowly opened his eyes.

His spiritual sense had detected a boat approaching Xiao Gui Island from two hundred li away.

But Qin Ming's expression turned odd; he muttered inwardly: "That boat is awfully small."

"Can it even survive the open Black Sea and reach the Southern Wastelands safely?"

Another incense stick later,

The boat finally bobbed and swayed into port at Xiao Gui Island.

It was a black vessel less than fifty zhang long, rusted, covered in seaweed, and patched repeatedly. "Hmm… this…" Qin Ming stared blankly at the boat, utterly speechless.

The middle-aged Luo cultivator, however, beamed at Qin Ming: "Elder Lu, the boat's here—let's board!"

Qin Ming nodded; his spiritual sense swept through the vessel and found it already packed with cultivators.

But most were low-level—likely only making short trips; those like Qin Ming heading straight to the Southern Wastelands were probably few and far between.

After the boat docked, two figures appeared on the bow deck, gazing at the group on Xiao Gui Island.

The elder was a Jin Dan beginner, an old man whose skin was sun-darkened from years at sea, with a scruffy beard, chewing on a tobacco pipe, puffing smoke.

The younger was a nimble boy, wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, bare-chested.

"Old man, we've got another customer."

(End of Chapter)